Louise Drewett
Louise Drewett (b.1989) is a British composer, based in London. ‘Clearly a talent with a very distinct sensibility’ (The Telegraph), Louise writes music that draws on her formative experience working with community choirs. Her music has been commissioned and performed by ensembles and institutions including the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the International Guitar Foundation and ABRSM. Her community opera ‘Daylighting’ was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award at the Ivors Composer Awards 2022. Louise is a Professor of Composition at the Royal Academy of Music, co-directs Sing Healthy Choirs and is acting Artistic Director of the New London Chamber Choir. She holds a PhD in Composition from the RAM where she studied on a scholarship with Philip Cashian, Hans Abrahamsen and Oliver Knussen.
Work List
Orchestral
The Daymark 10 mins, 2022.
3(II=afl,III=picc).2+ca.3.3(3=cbn) – 4331 – timp – perc(2): gl/vib/mar/t.bells/BD – hp – str
The Transparent Building 6 mins, 2018.
3(III=picc/afl).3(III=ca).3.3 – 4331 – timp – perc(2): vib/mar/t.bells/BD – hp – str
Chamber
Canon
3 mins, solo piano, 2025.
Isola
3 mins, solo piano, 2024.
Lament II
5 mins, solo double bass, 2023.
Rowing Tune
4 mins, solo cello, 2022.
Lullaby
4 mins, version for solo organ, 2022.
The Ancient Yew
7 mins, afl (db picc), ob (db ca), cl, bsn, vib, hp, pno, str (1.1.1.1.1), 2020.
Tree of Hundreds
5 mins, solo guitar, 2020.
Pizzica
5 mins, solo harp, 2020.
Quiver
6 mins, string quartet, 2018.
Vines
7 mins, two vibraphones and two marimbas, 2018.
Vocal/ensemble
The Lambs on the Hillside
3 mins, mezzo-soprano voice and piano, text: trad. 2025.
Sun
4 mins, mezzo-soprano voice and piano, text: trad. 2024.
Resurrexi
2 mins, mezzo-soprano voice and organ, text: trad. 2024.
Lament
6 mins, countertenor voice and piano, text: trad. 2023.
Flowers
3 mins, soprano, two clarinets, viola, cello, double bass., text: William Shakespeare. 2022.
The Yellow Bittern
6 mins, four singers (SMzTB), 2021.
How I Heard
3 mins, countertenor voice and piano, text: Clare Shaw, 2021.
Return to Kintail
5 mins, soprano, mezzo-soprano, and three instruments (versions for pno, vln, db & hp, vlc, db) 2020/2022.
Snowfall
4 mins, mezzo-soprano, baritone, saxophone, percussion, accordion, piano, double bass, text: Clare Shaw, 2017.
Conversation
4 mins, soprano, two clarinets, viola, cello, double bass, text: Susanna Howard, 2017.
Boxing Day, 2015
4mins, soprano voice and piano, text: Clare Shaw, 2017.
Eurydice
7 mins, six singers (SSMzTBB), text: Sue Hubbard, 2015.
Choral (original)
Street Party Songs (from play Street Party)
20 mins, children’s choir (unison or 2-part), piano & optional percussion. Text: Rebekah King. 2023.
The Concert (from community opera Daylighting)
3 mins, children’s choir (unison or 2-part) & piano, 2022.
Shakespeare Songs
10 mins, versions for choir SATB and orchestra (2(II=picc).2(II=ca).2.2 – 2.2.3.0. – timp – str) or choir and string orchestra, 2020/2024.
Stairway
20 mins, flexible scoring for singers, 2018.
Light a Candle – Christingle Song
3 mins, choir SATB/unison & piano versions. text: Clare Shaw. 2018.
The Quiet of the Sky
4 mins, choir SATB/SATB divisi versions. text: Tintern Abbey by William Wordsworth, 2016/2018.
Choral (arrangements)
Eriskay Love Lilt
3 mins, choir SSATB, 2021.
Amazing Grace
3 mins, choir SATB, 2021.
Down to the River
3 mins, choir SATB, 2020.
Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright
4 mins, choir SATB and piano, 2019.
While Shepherds Watched
3 mins, choir SATB and brass band, text: Nahum Tate, 2017.
My love is like a red, red rose
3 mins, choir SATB, text: Robert Burns, 2016.
In the Bleak Midwinter
4 mins, choir SATB and orchestra (2.2.2.2 – 4.0.0.0. – perc: glsp – str), text: Christina Rossetti, 2015.
Educational Music
Distant Bells & Distant Bells II – for the ABRSM Grade 1 Piano Syllabus 2025-26. 1 min, piano – for left hand or right hand only. 2024.
Nine anthology pieces – for the ABRSM Ukulele Music Medals Syllabus – ukulele solo & ensemble. 2024.
Black Lagoon – for Twenty. 3 mins, solo piano, 2020.
Theatre/Opera
Street Party Songs – music for Young People’s Puppet Theatre play ‘Street Party’.
20 mins, children’s choir (unison or 2-part), piano & optional percussion. Text: Rebekah King. 2023.
Daylighting – community opera,
35 mins, children’s choir, SMzAB soloists, narrator and ensemble (fl(=picc, a.f.), cl, bsn, vib, pno, vla, vlc, d.b.) text: Clare Shaw. 2021.
The Soaring Sky – collaboration with Arbonauts,
30 mins, co-written with Alex Nikiporenko, community singers, 2016.
Biped’s Monitor
collaboration with Arbonauts, co- written with Alex Nikiporenko, various forces, 2012/2013.
Other
Lullaby
4 mins, accordion orchestra, 2018.